Business confidence has begun to increase significantly as companies manage to raise revenues in the period of recovery following the recession. Yet there are still critics who claim that there are no solid signs of long term recovery. And with growth in manufacturing going into reverse last month, some fear a further dip into the economic doldrums.
However, recruitment agency Robert Walters plc believes that the employment growth seen since the start of 2013 is a strong indicator of a return to economic stability. According to founder and chief executive Robert Walters, employers are not only seeking workers to fill empty positions but are also creating new roles and teams in order to actively drive growth.
Two of the most promising sectors during the last quarter were in banking and insurance, with Robert Walters’ UK Job Index showing a sizeable increase in advertised roles. Over a three month period, jobs in the banking sector increased by 27 per cent, while available insurance and legal roles jumped by 16 per cent and 15 per cent respectively.
While it may be commonplace to assume that the majority of these roles are in London and the South East – the UK’s two largest economies – Mr Walters claims that there is now a trend for multinational organisations to venture further afield, in part due to the generous business rates relief offered by Enterprise Zones around the country. In fact, Manchester and Birmingham are now seeing many hub operations spring up, pushing demand for both skilled workers and high end commercial property.
Yet while employers may now be more willing to take on staff, those looking for work remain wary of achieving job security even if they successfully pass the interview stage. As many companies chose to cut costs by slashing positions during the recession, job security remains a major concern for the UK’s workforce and has taken a particularly heavy toll upon youth employment.
Mr Walters explains; “Ironically, whilst organisations are increasingly looking to take on new employees, candidates remain slightly more cautious.
“The downturn is still fresh in the minds of many – the ‘last in, first out’ concern remains very real.”
Mr Walters believes that, by working on communication and social skills, interviewees will truly showcase their worth to potential employers. This will allow them to take advantage of a strong employment market which becomes more favourable by the day.
He concludes; “Strong interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills will always be valuable, and vital to a successful interview.
“Candidates do themselves a great disservice if they don’t sell themselves by demonstrating an ability to positively interact with a potential employer, bringing to life their personalities as well as their credentials.”
Do you think a strong demand for workers is really a signifier of economic growth, or is there still a possibility of sliding back into recession?
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